Dispensing container for sterile compresses



Dec. 18, 1945. M. MOI. DUKEHART, JR. 2,391,301

DISPENSING, CONTAINER FOR STERILE COMPRESSES Filed Sept. 4, 1942 20 Mm M01 Dl/KEHAHZJH Y Patented Dec. 18, 1945 DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR STERILE COMPRESSES Morton McI. Dukehart, In, New Rochelle, N. Y., asslgnor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 157,352 3 Claims. (01. 206-56) The invention relates generally to container I structures and primarily seeks to provide a novel,

simple and inexpensively manufactured container in which sterile compresses of the well known Band-Aid" type can be marketed and from which they can be dispensed-with facility.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in providing a novel container structure for packaging a quantity of sterile compresses of well known, elongated Band-Aid type, said structure being elongated and rectangular in shape to snugly receive the quantity of compresses and having registering apertures adjacent one end thereof and through opposing faces so that one seeking to dispense a compress from the container can apply'pressln'e against the contained pack of-compresses, byliinger or thumb through one face aperture, and-thus cause an end of a single compress at the opposite faceoi! the container to be projected through the aperture in that face so that it can be readily gripped between finger and thumb of the other hand and withdrawn for use. A

Another. object of the invention is to a container of the character stated in which the pressure applying and compress dispensing aper tures are formed only when it is intended to disbeing initially defined at the positions of the intended apertures by perforations, or a combination of perforations and slits which facilitate re- .pense and use the first compress. removable areas 1 moval of these areas whenever desired, thereby providing for complete sanitary sealing of the package prior to the initial use'of the compress.

with the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a standard well known type of sterile compress such as the present invention is adapted for pack! aging and dispensing, the compress and its removable protecting sheath being shown separated one from the other.

Figure 2 is a central vertical cross section of a metallic container embodying the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container structure illustrated inFigure 2, the telescopically assembled parts of the container being shown separated one from the other.

Figure 4 is a face view illustrating a modified form of the container structure.

Figure 6 is a central vertical cross section of the containerillustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary face view showing an additionally modified form of the container.

While the container disclosed and claimed herein is adaptable for the packaging and dispensing of any flexible, elongated element, it is particularly designed for packaging and dispensing sterile compresses of a standard well known type known to the market as Band-Aid." One of the standard, well known formsof compresses is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing'and' comprises a sterile compress 5 having a gauze strip protective backing '6 and thelusual adhesive tape extensions l which provide for convenient attachment of the compress at the point at which it is I to be applied. The unit also includes removable protective tabs 8 of gauze and is removably inserted in a protectivesheath 9 of glassine paper.

The improved container in which the sheath compress units are packaged in'the manner illustrated in 'Figurezisin the form of an elongated rec tangle, as' will be evident bygreference to Figures ,2.and *3; fThisgcontainer includes a base havinga bottom face ill, sides ii and ends it, and may readily bedrawn to the shape clearly 'illustrated'in Figures} and 3. The container .is completedby a shallow slipvover cover I which is also drawn from sheet metal to include a top face l3, sides ,and ends i5,,the sides and ends and I5 being dimensioned tosnugly receive the sides and endsl 1,12 of the base section. Each of the base and cover sections is provided with a generally rectangular opening in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The opening in the bottom face in is designated l6 and theopening in ti'a top e i3 is indicated at I1, and these openings eta-l one with the other and are disposed close i1 tie end of the container so as to provide a rela confining shoulder is at each i of the container for confining the upper flexible end extremities of the "Band-Aid units is which fill the container in face to face parallel relation between the parallel face walls I0 and iii in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

If desired, the metallic container structure illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 may be initially marketed with an overall protective wrapper of paper or any other material which can bereadily removed prior to initial use of the Band-Aids." It will be obvious that by applying pressure by finger or thumb through one of the container 0f the "Band-Aid units can be pressed toward the opposing aperture I 6 or II, thereby to cause the upper extremity of the outermost unit to, snap over the retaining shoulder l8 and out through the outermost opening in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing there is illustrated a modified form of the container in which the assembled half sections 20 and 2| are formed of heavy paper or other suitable nonmetallic material. In this form of the invention each base and top section 20 and 2| is provided with connected lines of perforations 22 or weak- (nod portions defining a tear-out piece 23 which may be readily removed to provide the desired pressure applying and element dispensing apertures. The advantage'of such structures will be obvious. A container co constructed will remain sealed throughout the base and top walls of the sections 2|] and 2| until it is intended to make the initial use of the Band-Aids at which time the tear-out areas 23 can be removed and apertures .provided for the first time in the container sections 20 and 2|. It will be obvious that the telescoping portions of the section 20 and 2| in this form of container may be sealed, if desired, so as to additionally assure the provision of a sanitary package.

In Figure 6 of the drawing there is illustrated still another modification of the invention in which the container may be formed, as in Figures 4 and 5, except for the provision of peri oration lines 24 around sides and top only of the intended pressure applying or element dispensing aperture, the remaining or base side of the area being defined by a bend or score line 25. Thus, by freeing the resultant flap around the three sides defined by the weakened lines 24, and by bending this freed flap in or out at the bend line 25, the desired pressure applying and element dispensing openings are provided without neces- 'sitating complete removal of the base and cover areas through which the apertures are formed. Obviously, retention of the fiaps defined by the weakened lines 24 aid greatly in maintaining the sanitary nature of the container.

In the foregoing description there is disclosed a very simple and efiicient form of dispensing container which is particularly adaptable for containing and dispensing elongated, flexible elements such as the well known sterile compresses marketed as Band-Aid, but it is to be understood that the container can be utilized to package and dispense other elements of flexible construction and may be altered as to specific shape and form without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A compress or like flexible element dispensing container comprising an elongated rectangular casing having wall portions defining a compress element pack enclosing chamber, two 01' said wall portions opposing each other and interven ing fiat portions of enclosed compress elements in parallel relation, and having registering openings therein through one of which openings pressure can be hand applied against the pack of enclosed compresses to force said pack toward the other opening and one end portion of one compress of the pack out through said other opening to be readily grasped and withdrawn therethrough, said openings being disposed adjacent but spaced from one end of the casing thereby to define compress element confining shoulders of short length at the adjacent casing end.

2. A compress or like flexible element dispensing container comprising an elongated rectangular casing having wall'portions defining a compress element pack enclosing chamber, two of said portions opposing each other and intervening flat portions of enclosed compress elements in parallel relation, and having surface areas dofined by weakened lines to constitute tear out POI; tions removable to provide registering openings through one of which openings pressure can be hand applied against the pack of enclosed compresses to force said pack toward the other opening and one end portion of one compress of the pack out through said other opening to be readily grasped and withdrawn therethrough, said openings being disposed adjacent but spaced from one end of the casing thereby to define compress element confining shoulders of short length at the adjacent easing end.

3. A compress or like flexible element dispensing container comprising a rectangular casing having wall portions defining a compress element pack enclosing chamber, two of said wall portions opposing each other and intervening flat portions of enclosed compress elements in parallel relation, and having surface areas defined at three sides by perforations and at a fourth side by a bend line to constitute displaceable portions swingable out of the planes of said wall portions to provide registering openings through one of which openings pressure can be hand applied against the'pack of enclosed compresses to force said pack toward the other opening and one end portion of one compress of the pack out through said other opening to be readily grasped and withdrawn therethrough, one of said three sides of each said surface area being disposed parallel the respective bend line and spaced only a short distance from the adjacent end of the container and relative to the length of the elements of the enclosed pack of compresses so as to form an element confining shoulder effective to cause individual element ends to be flipped out of a given opening upon said application of pressure through the opposite opening.

MORTON MCI. DUKEHART, JR. 

